Fisherman's body washes ashore

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The body of a fisherman, Gnanapillai Bastiampillai, 42, who was reported missing after his fishing boat collided with a Sri Lankan Navy craft on May 5, was washed ashore in Pt. Pedro yesterday.

Bastiampillai, father of 7, is from Mayiliddi and was residing temporarily at Kudathanai in the Vadamaradchi east. His body was handed over to his family after inquest.

Another youth, K.Thalithkumar, 20, who was also in the fishing boat, escaped.

Meanwhile, the body of an unidentified man, estimated to be aged between 50 and 52 years, was found in Kolumbuthurai in Jaffna on Tuesday said Jaffna hospital sources.

The body was cremated yesterday as no one had claimed it, said hospital officials in Jaffna.

Elsewhere, S. Rajathurai, 52, who went to collect firewood, was critically injured when he stepped on a mine, in Thaiyakppulam in Vallalai in the Vadamaradchi. He was later admitted to the Achchuveli hospital.